Erik Höglund was a glass artist born in 1932. After studying sculpture at Konstfack in Stockholm (now known as the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design), he pursued a successful career as a designer at BODA glassworks from 1953 until 1973. At a time when highly refined designs were popular, his primitive-style works adopting South American craftsmanship into Nordic tradition breathed new life into the art and craft of glass-making.
He experimented with ways to convey warmth and the traces of the maker's hands in his works, such as trying many different firing fuels and even throwing the glass into sawdust. Embossed animal motifs, strong use of color, the air bubbles and warps in the glass that were avoided by other craftsmen, have all become his trademarks.
In 1957 he received the Lunning prize, the most respected award amongst Nordic designers. Winning the prize at the age of 25 made him the youngest winner amongst such other prominent prize winners as Hans J. Wegner, Tapio Wirkkala, Kaj Franck and Timo Sarpaneva. After receiving the honor, he continued seeking new means of expression and materials. From 1973 he worked mainly as a fine artist until his death in 1998 - by which time he had worked with such institutions as PUKEBERG, the Pilchuck Glass School and Studioglas Stromshyttan. There are over 150 of his objets made using glass, iron, copper and other materials in public collections both within and outside Sweden.
